Won't start sometimes
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Joined: Dec 2001
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Won't start sometimes
This has happened about 3 times over the past month. When I turn the ignition switch I hear a click under the hood but the starter doesn't turn. If I keep turning the key or wait a couple minutes and try again it starts right up. Is this the starter going bad? or something else? Please help as I want to fix it before I get stranded somewhere.
Thanks,
Steve
95 XLT 5.0L
Thanks,
Steve
95 XLT 5.0L
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Covington USA
Won't start sometimes
Before replacing the solenoid, make sure the connections to it are clean and tight, making good contact. Mine were lose and that was all it took to clear the problem up. I thought I was stranded too, until I noticed the arcing on the solenoid at the negative side. Tightend it up, and fired right up.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,007
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From: Oregon
Won't start sometimes
I usually find my problem at the negitive side of the solenoid, too. Although, a couple weeks ago I found I had a wore out alt. It wasn't all the way dead, but enough that when I turned on my lights the guage would dip to neg a little. One of these days I'm going to replace the harness around the solenoid and get rid of the hatchet job somebody did on it.
Scott
85 Bronco 351W
Scott
85 Bronco 351W
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
Won't start sometimes
If you are hearing the solenoid under the hood click over your problem may still not be the starter itself. On your starter there should be a secondary relay down on the starter. Steve83 pointed this one out to me. There is a 1/4" spade terminal connection on my 92 that runs to the secondary relay on the starter. Mine did the same thing just the other day. I replaced the original bare spade terminal with a fully insulated female spade to keep the salt and grime off of it. Turned out that terminal was just filthy and was keeping the other relay from engaging. Cleaned the male spade term. and replaced the female one. Works like a charm.
Last edited by greystreak92; Feb 12, 2003 at 12:02 PM.
